LONG, long ago there lived, an old
man and. an old woman; they were peasants, and had to work hard to earn
their daily rice. The old man used to go and cut grass for the farmers
around, and while he was gone the old woman, his wife, did the work of
the house and worked in their own little rice field.

One day the old man went to the hills as usual to cut
grass and the old woman took some clothes to the river to wash.

It was nearly summer, and the country was very beautiful
to see in its fresh greenness as the two old people went on their way
to work. The grass on the banks of the river looked like emerald velvet,
and the pussy willows along the edge of the water were shaking out their
soft tassels.

The breezes blew and ruffled the smooth surface of the
water into wavelets, and passing on touched the cheeks of the old couple
who, for some reason they could not explain, felt very happy that morning.

The old woman at last found a nice spot by the river bank
and put her basket down. Then she set to work to wash the clothes; she
took them one by one out of the basket and washed them in the river and
rubbed them on the stones. The water was as clear as crystal, and she
could see the tiny fish swimming to and fro, and the pebbles at the bottom.

As she was busy washing her clothes a great peach came
bumping down the stream. The old woman looked up from her work and saw
this large peach. She was sixty years of age, yet in all her life she
had never seen such a big peach as this.

"How delicious that peach must be!" she said
to herself. "I must certainly get it and take it home to my old man."

She stretched out her arm to try and get it, but it was
quite out of her reach. She looked about for a stick, but there was not
one to be seen, and if she went to look for one she would lose the peach.

Stopping a moment to think what she would do, she remembered
an old charm-verse. Now she began to clap her hands to keep time to the
rolling of the peach down stream, and while she clapped she sang this
song:

"Distant water is bitter,
The near water is sweet;
Pass by the distant water
And come into the sweet."

Strange to say, as soon as she began to repeat this little
song the peach began to come nearer and nearer the bank where the old
woman was standing, till at last it stopped just in front of her so that
she was able to take it up in her hands. The old woman was delighted.
She could not go on with her work, so happy and excited was she, so she
put all the clothes back in her bamboo basket, and with the basket on
her back and the peach in her hand she hurried homewards.

It seemed a very long time to her to wait till her husband
returned. The old man at last came back as the sun was setting, with a
big bundle of grass on his back-so big that he was almost hidden and she
could hardly see him. He seemed very tired and used the scythe for a walking
stick, leaning on it as he walked along.

As soon as the old woman saw him she called out:

"O Fii San! (old man) I have been waiting for you
to come home for such a long time to-day!"

"What is the matter? Why are you so impatient?"
asked the old man, wondering at her unusual eagerness. "Has anything
happened while I have been away?"

"Oh, no!" answered the old woman, "nothing
has happened, only I have found a nice present for you!"

"That is good," said the old man. He then washed
his feet in a basin of water and stepped up to the veranda.

The old woman now ran into the little room and brought
out from the cupboard the big peach. It felt even heavier than before.
She held it up to him, saying:

"Just look at this! Did you ever see such a large
peach in all your life?"

When the old man looked at the peach he was greatly astonished
and said:

"This is indeed the largest peach I have ever seen!
Wherever did you buy it?"

"I did not buy it," answered the old woman.
"I found it in the river where I was washing." And she told
him the whole story.

"I am very glad that you have found it. Let us eat
it now, for I am hungry," said the O Fii San.

He brought out the kitchen knife, and, placing the peach
on a board, was about to cut it when, wonderful to tell, the peach split
in two of itself and a clear voice said:

"Wait a bit, old man!" and out stepped a beautiful
little child.

The old man and his wife were both so astonished at what
they saw that they fell to the ground. The child spoke again:

"Don't be afraid. I am no demon or fairy. I will
tell you the truth. Heaven has had compassion on you. Every day and every
night you have lamented that you had no child. Your cry has been heard
and I am sent to be the son of your old age!"

On hearing this the old man and his wife were very happy.
They had cried night and day for sorrow at having no child to help them
in their lonely old age, and now that their prayer was answered they were
so lost with joy that they did not know where to put their hands or their
feet. First the old man took the child up in his arms, and then the old
woman did the same; and they named him MOMOTARO, OR SON OF A PEACH, because
he had come out of a peach.

The years passed quickly by and the child grew to be fifteen
years of age. He was taller and far stronger than any other boys of his
own age, he had a handsome face and a heart full of courage, and he was
very wise for his years. The old couple's pleasure was very great when
they looked at him, for he was just what they thought a hero ought to
be like.

One day Momotaro came to his foster-father and said solemnly:

"Father, by a strange chance we have become father
and son. Your goodness to me has been higher than the mountain grasses
which it was your daily work to cut, and deeper than the river where my
mother washes the clothes. I do not know how to thank you enough."

"Why," answered the old man, "it is a matter
of course that a father should bring up his son. When you are older it
will be your turn to take care of us, so after all there will be no profit
or loss between us-all will be equal. Indeed, I am rather surprised that
you should thank me in this way!" and the old man looked bothered.

"I hope you will be patient with me," said Momotaro;
"but before I begin to pay back your goodness to me I have a request
to make which I hope you will grant me above everything else."

"I will let you do whatever you wish, for you are
quite different to all other boys!"

"Then let me go away at once!"

"What do you say? Do you wish to leave your old father
and mother and go away from your old home?"

"I will surely come back again, if you let me go
now!"

"Where are you going?"

"You must think it strange that I want to go away,"
said Momotaro, "because I have not yet told you my reason. Far away
from here to the northeast of Japan there is an island in the sea. This
island is the stronghold of a band of devils. I have often heard how they
invade this land, kill and rob the people, and carry off all they can
find. They are not only very wicked but they are disloyal to our Emperor
and disobey his laws. They are also cannibals, for they kill and eat some
of the poor people who are so unfortunate as to fall into their hands.
These devils are very hateful beings. I must go and conquer them and bring
back all the plunder of which they have robbed this land. It is for this
reason that I want to go away for a short time!"

The old man was much surprised at hearing all this from
a mere boy of fifteen. He thought it best to let the boy go. He was strong
and fearless, and besides all this, the old man knew he was no common
child, for he had been sent to them as a gift from Heaven, and he felt
quite sure that the devils would be powerless to harm him.

"All you say is very interesting, Momotaro,"
said the old man. "I will not hinder you in your determination. You
may go if you wish. Go to the island as soon as ever you like and destroy
the demons and bring peace to the land."

"Thank you, for all your kindness," said Momotaro,
who began to get ready to go that very day. He was full of courage and
did not know what fear was.

The old man and woman at once set to work to pound rice
in the kitchen mortar to make cakes for Momotaro to take with him on his
journey.

At last the cakes were made and Momotaro was ready to
start on his long journey.

Parting is always sad. So it was now. The eyes of the
two old people were filled with tears and their voices trembled as they
said:

"Go with all care and speed. We expect you back victorious!"

Momotaro was very sorry to leave his old parents (though
he knew he was coming back as soon as he could), for he thought of how
lonely they would be while he was away. But he said "Good-by!"
quite bravely.

"I am going now. Take good care of yourselves while
I am away. Good- by!" And he stepped quickly out of the house. In
silence the eyes of Momotaro and his parents met in farewell.

Momotaro now hurried on his way till it was midday. He
began to feel hungry, so he opened his bag and took out one of the rice-cakes
and sat down under a tree by the side of the road to eat it. While he
was thus having his lunch a dog almost as large as a colt came running
out from the high grass. He made straight for Momotaro, and showing his
teeth, said in a fierce way:

"You are a rude man to pass my field without asking
permission first. If you leave me all the cakes you have in your bag you
may go; otherwise I will bite you till I kill you!"

Momotaro only laughed scornfully:

"What is that you are saying? Do you know who I am?
I am Momotaro, and I am on my way to subdue the devils in their island
stronghold in the northeast of Japan. If you try to stop me on my way
there I will cut you in two from the head downwards!"

The dog's manner at once changed. His tail dropped between
his legs, and coming near he bowed so low that his forehead touched the
ground.

"What do I hear? The name of Momotaro? Are you indeed
Momotaro? I have often heard of your great strength. Not knowing who you
were I have behaved in a very stupid way. Will you please pardon my rudeness?
Are you indeed on your way to invade the Island of Devils? If you will
take such a rude fellow with you as one of your followers, I shall be
very grateful to you."

"I think I can take you with me if you wish to go,"
said Momotaro.

"Thank you!" said the dog. "By the way,
I am very very hungry. Will you give me one of the cakes you are carrying?"

"This is the best kind of cake there is in Japan,"
said Momotaro. "I cannot spare you a whole one; I will give you half
of one."

"Thank you very much," said the dog, taking
the piece thrown to him.

Then Momotaro got up and the dog followed. For a long
time they walked over the hills and through the valleys. As they were
going along an animal came down from a tree a little ahead of them. The
creature soon came up to Momotaro and said:

"Good morning, Momotaro! You are welcome in this
part of the country. Will you allow me to go with you?"

The dog answered jealously:

"Momotaro already has a dog to accompany him. Of
what use is a monkey like you in battle? We are on our way to fight the
devils! Get away!"

The dog and the monkey began to quarrel and bite, for
these two animals always hate each other.

"Now, don't quarrel!" said Momotaro, putting
himself between them. "Wait a moment, dog!"

"It is not at all dignified for you to have such
a creature as that following you!" said the dog.

"What do you know about it?" asked Momotaro;
and pushing aside the dog, he spoke to the monkey:

"Who are you?"

"I am a monkey living in these hills," replied
the monkey." I heard of your expedition to the Island of Devils,
and I have come to go with you. Nothing will please me more than to follow
you!"

"Do you really wish to go to the Island of Devils
and fight with me?"

"Yes, sir," replied the monkey.

"I admire your courage," said Momotaro. "Here
is a piece of one of my fine rice-cakes. Come along!"

So the monkey joined Momotaro. The dog and the monkey
did not get on well together. They were always snapping at each other
as they went along, and always wanting to have a fight. This made Momotaro
very cross, and at last he sent the dog on ahead with a flag and put the
monkey behind with a sword, and he placed himself between them with a
war-fan, which is made of iron.

By and by they came to a large field. Here a bird flew
down and alighted on the ground just in front of the little party. It
was the most beautiful bird Momotaro had ever seen. On its body were five
different robes of feathers and its head was covered with a scarlet cap.

The dog at once ran at the bird and tried to seize and
kill it. But the bird struck out its spurs and flew at the dog's tail,
and the fight went hard with both.

Momotaro, as he looked on, could not help admiring the
bird; it showed so much spirit in the fight. It would certainly make a
good fighter.

Momotaro went up to the two combatants, and holding the
dog back, said to the bird:

"You rascal! you are hindering my journey. Surrender
at once, and I will take you with me. If you don't I will set this dog
to bite your head off!"

Then the bird surrendered at once, and begged to be taken
into Momotaro's company.

"I do not know what excuse to offer for quarreling
with the dog, your servant, but I did not see you. I am a miserable bird
called a pheasant. It is very generous of you to pardon my rudeness and
to take me with you. Please allow me to follow you behind the dog and
the monkey!"

"I congratulate you on surrendering so soon,"
said Momotaro, smiling. "Come and join us in our raid on the devils."

"Are you going to take this bird with you also?"
asked the dog, interrupting.

"Why do you ask such an unnecessary question? Didn't
you hear what I said? I take the bird with me because I wish to!"

"Humph!" said the dog.

Then Momotaro stood and gave this order:

"Now all of you must listen to me. The first thing
necessary in an army is harmony. It is a wise saying which says that 'Advantage
on earth is better than advantage in Heaven!' Union amongst ourselves
is better than any earthly gain. When we are not at peace amongst ourselves
it is no easy thing to subdue an enemy. From now, you three, the dog,
the monkey and the pheasant, must be friends with one mind. The one who
first begins a quarrel will be discharged on the spot!"

All the three promised not to quarrel. The pheasant was
now made a member of Momotaro's suite, and received half a cake.

Momotaro's influence was so great that the three became
good friends, and hurried onwards with him as their leader.

Hurrying on day after day they at last came out upon the
shore of the North-Eastern Sea. There was nothing to be seen as far as
the horizon-not a sign of any island. All that broke the stillness was
the rolling of the waves upon the shore.

Now, the dog and the monkey and the pheasant had come
very bravely all the way through the long valleys and over the hills,
but they had never seen the sea before, and for the first time since they
set out they were bewildered and gazed at each other in silence. How were
they to cross the water and get to the Island of Devils?

Momotaro soon saw that they were daunted by the sight
of the sea, and to try them he spoke loudly and roughly:

"Why do you hesitate? Are you afraid of the sea?
Oh! what cowards you are! It is impossible to take such weak creatures
as you with me to fight the demons. It will be far better for me to go
alone. I discharge you all at once!"

The three animals were taken aback at this sharp reproof,
and clung to Momotaro's sleeve, begging him not to send them away.

"Please, Momotaro!" said the dog.

"We have come thus far!" said the monkey.

"It is inhuman to leave us here!" said the pheasant.

"We are not at all afraid of the sea," said
the monkey again.

"Please do take us with you," said the pheasant.

"Do please," said the dog.

They had now gained a little courage, so Momotaro said:

"Well, then, I will take you with me, but be careful!"

Momotaro now got a small ship, and they all got on board.
The wind and weather were fair, and the ship went like an arrow over the
sea. It was the first time they had ever been on the water, and so at
first the dog, the monkey and the pheasant were frightened at the waves
and the rolling of the vessel, but by degrees they grew accustomed to
the water and were quite happy again. Every day they paced the deck of
their little ship, eagerly looking out for the demons' island.

When they grew tired of this, they told each other stories
of all their exploits of which they were proud, and then played games
together; and Momotaro found much to amuse him in listening to the three
animals and watching their antics, and in this way he forgot that the
way was long and that he was tired of the voyage and of doing nothing.
He longed to be at work killing the monsters who had done so much harm
in his country.

As the wind blew in their favor and they met no storms
the ship made a quick voyage, and one day when the sun was shining brightly
a sight of land rewarded the four watchers at the bow.

Momotaro knew at once that what they saw was the devils'
stronghold. On the top of the precipitous shore, looking out to sea, was
a large castle. Now that his enterprise was close at hand, he was deep
in thought with his head leaning on his hands, wondering how he should
begin the attack. His three followers watched him, waiting for orders.
At last he called to the pheasant:

"It is a great advantage for us to have you with
us." said Momotaro to the bird, "for you have good wings. Fly
at once to the castle and engage the demons to fight. We will follow you."

The pheasant at once obeyed. He flew off from the ship
beating the air gladly with his wings. The bird soon reached the island
and took up his position on the roof in the middle of the castle, calling
out loudly:

"All you devils listen to me! The great Japanese
general Momotaro has come to fight you and to take your stronghold from
you. If you wish to save your lives surrender at once, and in token of
your submission you must break off the horns that grow on your forehead.
If you do not surrender at once, but make up your mind to fight, we, the
pheasant, the dog and the monkey, will kill you all by biting and tearing
you to death!"

The horned demons looking up and only seeing a pheasant,
laughed and said:

"A wild pheasant, indeed! It is ridiculous to hear
such words from a mean thing like you. Wait till you get a blow from one
of our iron bars!"

Very angry, indeed, were the devils. They shook their
horns and their shocks of red hair fiercely, and rushed to put on tiger
skin trousers to make themselves look more terrible. They then brought
out great iron bars and ran to where the pheasant perched over their heads,
and tried to knock him down. The pheasant flew to one side to escape the
blow, and then attacked the head of first one and then another demon.
He flew round and round them, beating the air with his wings so fiercely
and ceaselessly, that the devils began to wonder whether they had to fight
one or many more birds.

In the meantime, Momotaro had brought his ship to land.
As they had approached, he saw that the shore was like a precipice, and
that the large castle was surrounded by high walls and large iron gates
and was strongly fortified.

Momotaro landed, and with the hope of finding some way
of entrance, walked up the path towards the top, followed by the monkey
and the dog. They soon came upon two beautiful damsels washing clothes
in a stream. Momotaro saw that the clothes were blood-stained, and that
as the two maidens washed, the tears were falling fast down their cheeks.
He stopped and spoke to them:

"Who are you, and why do you weep?"

"We are captives of the Demon King. We were carried
away from our homes to this island, and though we are the daughters of
Daimios (Lords), we are obliged to be his servants, and one day he will
kill us"-and the maidens held up the blood-stained clothes-"and
eat us, and there is no one to help us!"

And their tears burst out afresh at this horrible thought.

"I will rescue you," said Momotaro. "Do
not weep any more, only show me how I may get into the castle."

Then the two ladies led the way and showed Momotaro a
little back door in the lowest part of the castle wall-so small that Momotaro
could hardly crawl in.

The pheasant, who was all this time fighting hard, saw
Momotaro and his little band rush in at the back.

Momotaro's onslaught was so furious that the devils could
not stand against him. At first their foe had been a single bird, the
pheasant, but now that Momotaro and the dog and the monkey had arrived
they were bewildered, for the four enemies fought like a hundred, so strong
were they. Some of the devils fell off the parapet of the castle and were
dashed to pieces on the rocks beneath; others fell into the sea and were
drowned; many were beaten to death by the three animals.

The chief of the devils at last was the only one left.
He made up his mind to surrender, for he knew that his enemy was stronger
than mortal man.

He came up humbly to Momotaro and threw down his iron
bar, and kneeling down at the victor's feet he broke off the horns on
his head in token of submission, for they were the sign of his strength
and power.

"I am afraid of you," he said meekly. "I
cannot stand against you. I will give you all the treasure hidden in this
castle if you will spare my life!"

Momotaro laughed.

"It is not like you, big devil, to beg for mercy,
is it? I cannot spare your wicked life, however much you beg, for you
have killed and tortured many people and robbed our country for many years."

Then Momotaro tied the devil chief up and gave him into
the monkey's charge. Having done this, he went into all the rooms of the
castle and set the prisoners free and gathered together all the treasure
he found.

The dog and the pheasant carried home the plunder, and
thus Momotaro returned triumphantly to his home, taking with him the devil
chief as a captive.

The two poor damsels, daughters of Daimios, and others
whom the wicked demon had carried off to be his slaves, were taken safely
to their own homes and delivered to their parents.

The whole country made a hero of Momotaro on his triumphant
return, and rejoiced that the country was now freed from the robber devils
who had been a terror of the land for a long time.

The old couple's joy was greater than ever, and the treasure
Momotaro had brought home with him enabled them to live in peace and plenty
to the end of their days.